The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21
TYPHOID FEVER.
One of the Great Dangers Attending
the DiseaSe..-Thc Importance OF!
Absolute Rest in Its Treatment.

From q Lecture Jy Dr.. H. c. Uood, before tie
University Of Pennsylvania Hospital 1r"ht'
ing School for NHTSeS
The first thing that VIC learn in studying
typhoid fever is that in the majority OF in'
stances it causes death by producing cXhauS-
tim. We learn also that sometimes IL ki i
10y producing disease OF the bowe'S WIN VII,
food getting upon one o! these ulcers nny
tear open the bowel with fatal results. we
STUDY the dangers and see how they arc 10 De-
avoided. OF al the dangers III typhoid ieHer,
exhaustion is the most serious. The success
ful treatment oI typhoid lever rest not upon
the administration OF drugs, ai'hou.n thlr
may be important; noi upon me lhCItliis ni
this and that symptom as 1t arises, although
the >kllltulI physician docs this: but II rests
cspecitrIy upon The fact hat the disease has
been recognized carly. and that every gram ol
strength has Dcrn husband d, 81 that in the
coming weeks, when IT, Sh I'll be needed, it
shall hc present. / have often compared
patient with typhoid f|vrr 10 Il snip on
coast In a Storm. The ship being driven on
to the paints Of rocks, but beyond the Juttins
prOmontory is smooth water and safety. IL
The captain can carry the ship AROUND that
julting rock, II makes no difference how Close
he mas c,me 10 il, If h" bat clears II he Is
safe so in typh"itl fever thee often comes
time when it j. the list grain of Strength
that holds the nHin AZ he crosses hy lhe chse
OF the op'n grave. II yon IN ho:d MN i"r Il
few hours uTti, little strength bc gained he
IS tfe.
In every case of such disease il hehOore>
y"u to remember that every particle OF
strength that YOU can save is perhaps me 10
that patient. The moment thlt there comes
the slightest indication of the approaching
storm the patient should be put to bed, Kept
quiet. and not allowed to ma ke any motion or
eXertion. Many "a doctor orders absolute rest,
and the nurse perhaps thinks that she is car
rying out her instructions, and the patient
dies because the doctor Is carcl esS ana The
nurse is ignorant. Under these circumstances
absolute rest means absolute rest. !: means
that the patient should be put to bed and not
allowed to get out for anything: The patient
may feel fairly strong. ana VIII Insist that
he can get out of bed for the natural acts of
the body. The patent is to be kept in bed,
and under no circumstances, rs You value
your professional honor, do you let him rise.
If the house Is on fire throw him over your
shoulder and carry him out, but do not allow
him TO rise by himself
Never allow these patients to make their
own toilet. If O bath Is ordered by the physi.
clan which apparently Involves oi;t a waste at'i OF
not the patients that is wasted. Do not let
the patient do anything Whatsoever. DO not
let him make any eXertion. The wrltlng OF q
letter may mean death. A man may write
rant.
This application of rest In the treatment OF
disease goes further. In all diseases the pow
ers of the nurse should be directed to the saw
ing of the strength of the patient, and you
should remember that there Is mental wor.
ry which Is more eShauStinS than physical
exercise. Mere uncleallliicsS, loW FoiCe W
a deaf patient, loud, high-pitched voice toa
patient whose hearing Is acute failure to
quickly understand the whims and caprlces
Of sick man or woman, are tormentlng
things which take away the rest and destroy
the life of the patient. We talk about un-
clearly nurses, and we all know the type OF
the nurse which was pinned up by Dickens
for all ages, as the entomologist pins up the
beetle and watches its unclean movements;
but the unclean nurse is scarcely as bad as the
fuSsy nurse.
A nurse who is continually shifting the
blinds. moving about the room when there Is
no need for 1t, asking the patient whether he
wants this or that, or Is excessively active
and alert, Is great evil.
Now, nurses OF the University Hospital, lei
me say one more word to you. l think that
your calling is one of the highest 10 which
human being ever devoted herself. You re-
member that the Bible tells us that "He
giveth His beloved Sleep" but sleep Is rest.
so will you, trust, ccmport yourself that In
the future as you so from house 20 house, II
shall be said of you, ''She gave me rest"